Fat, Fifty(ish) and Female

lisabinco

I just recently heard the term "3F" which is apparently used by the medical establishment to describe a fat woman in her fifties. It's that common nowadays that we've been reduced to an acronym. I'd never heard it before, even though I was all three of those for several years. (I am still female and in my fifties nevertheless.) Has anyone else ever heard of this phrase?

Tigerbell1221

I am actually a physician who is taking a sabbatical to raise my youngest at home till she gets into kindergarten (which she just started......yahhh!!! ). What you are referring to is a teaching acronym that is used in medical schools to help students remember a common condition found in women. It is actually FAT, FEMALE, FORTY AND FERTILE. And it refers to the population of patients that are the most commonly susceptible to gall stones.

lisabinco

Well, that's interesting. So it's really "4F" then; I never knew. Makes sense, though. Thanks!
Makes me even more happy that I am no longer TWO of those tags -- "forty" nor "fat."

AtlantaWriter

I'm a former nurse, and we used to call women gallbladder patients the 4F's: fat, female, forty, and flatulent. (I don't believe it was an actual medical term, though.) I was in my 20s and am horrified I ever participated in that nomenclature! How belittling and unfair. I know plenty of fit males who've had their gallbladders out! And I'm 59 and my gallbladder is fine, thank you very much!

funandfresh

Hi, My name is Linda and I had to respond your post about the 3 F'S . My doctor told me it was fat , fair and fifty, which is why we have gallbladder problems. I had mine out 2 years ago!

lisabinco

Haha! So it's a pretty common term, I guess. Yes, it does not sound like a nice term. I'm surprised they would actually use it. Sadly, it must be very common to see forty-ish fat females.